Colorado relied on its big play capabilities as the Buffaloes cruised to a 37-3 victory over Texas State during the team's home opener in Boulder.

Steven Montez passed for 299 yards and a touchdown, while tailback Phillip Lindsay pounded out 87 yards of his own and a 7-yard score on the ground to pace the Buffs, who move to 2-0 on the year.

Colorado jumped on the scoreboard courtesy of a bizarre touchdown. Freshman Laviska Shenault became the 15th player in program history to score a touchdown on his first career touch, picking up a punt-return fumble by teammate Isaiah Oliver and taking it 55 yards to put the Buffs up 7-0 in the first quarter.

Bryce Bobo made an acrobatic catch in the second quarter to help set up Montez' 2-yard score, capping off a nine-play, 96-yard drive as Colorado built a 14-0 lead. Bobo finished with 75 receiving yards and added an 11-yard scoring grab towards the end of the third quarter. The touchdown was the culmination of a drive that saw the Buffs use seven plays to go 86 yards in less than two minutes.

Colorado senior Shay Fields led all receivers with 110 yards.

Despite the score, a pesky Texas State hung around through the first three quarters. The Bobcats tallied 283 total yards, 156 of them rushing. But the Colorado defense was too strong to overcome. Texas State converted just four of 15 third downs.

Defensively Leo Jackson III dropped Bobcats quarterback Damian Williams for three sacks. Colorado earned five sacks on the day with Derek McCartney and Tim Coleman Jr. also contributing.

Colorado has yet to yield a touchdown in the team's first two games.

Former Australian soccer player James Stefanou connected on all three of his field goal attempts, the longest from 40 yards out.

Buffaloes starting left tackle Jeromy Irwin (suspension) sat out his second consecutive game because of a suspension.